ASTROLABE - FRENCH - 1811

The ASTROLABE was a 380 tons corvette that was launched in 1811 under the
name "LA COQUILLE". She was used to chart the Mediterranean Sea,
Black sea and in 1822 she set out on her first world voyage under the command
of Lieutenant-Commander Duperrey. Then in 1825 she was renamed l'ASTROLABE
in memory of La Perouse. At that time she set sailed on her second voyage
of discovery under the command of captain Dumont d'Urville. On 26th of February
1828 Captain Dumont d'Urville discovered the place in Vanikoro where the
ships of La Perouse had been stranded.

On 7th of September 1837 after lengthy preparations, L'ASTROLABE set sail
accompanied by Zelee and headed towards Terra del Fuego and the Atlantic
Ocean. However, it was only on his second expedition that Dumont d'Urville
discovered a country in the Antarctica which he named "Terre Adelaide"
according to his wife's name. L'ASTROLABE completed her last voyage between
1844 and 1850 along the coasts of South America.